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Home My Public Portal About12-8472 Supporting the Central Everglades Planning Project Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor Resolution No. 12-8472 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES PLANNING PROJECT FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, Everglades National Park is critical to South Florida's tourism,with nearly a million visitors each year, 30% from outside of the United States; and WHEREAS, the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is a globally imperiled habitat and the primary source of drinking water for the City of Opa-locka; and WHEREAS, the Everglades ecosystem has continued to decline in the face of restoration delays,and an expedited solution is needed to increase the quality,quantity,timing and distribution of freshwater flows into the central Everglades,Everglades National Park,and Florida and Biscayne Bays; and WHEREAS,increased deliveries of water south of Lake Okeechobee will reduce damaging discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries; and WHEREAS, the goal of Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) is to significantly reduce planning times and deliver a finalized plan for a suite of restoration projects in the central Everglades within 18 months; and WHEREAS, full support and funding by the State of Florida and the U.S. Congress is needed to implement this project that will protect regional water supply, create much needed jobs and strengthen the local economy. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF Resolution No. 12-8472 THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA: Section 1. That the foregoing"WHEREAS" clauses are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this Resolution upon adoption hereof. Section 2. The City Commission of the City of Opa-locka hereby supports the completion of a Project Implementation Report(PIR)by South Florida Water Management District and the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers through the CEPP by May 2013 that addresses key obstacles for restoring freshwater flows and implements meaningful ecological and economic benefits toward restoring America's Everglades. Section 3. The City Manager is hereby authorized to do all things necessary to effectuate the terms of this resolution. Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of Octobe , 2012. ( --;1_,A1 C�R14AYLOR MAYOR Attest to: Approved as 'o form and legal suf ficiency: • •• 1piFA 41 C Ioanna Flores Jo l.h S.f eller IV w w Interim City Clerk C , Atte ey Moved by: COMMISSIONER H le LMES Seconded by: VICE MAYOR JOHNSON Commission Vote: 5-0 Commissioner Holmes: YES Commissioner Miller: YES Commissioner Tydus: YES Vice-Mayor Johnson: YES Mayor Taylor: YES • IN) 1 Tropical Audubon Society The Voice of Conservation in South Florida "'r" August 14, 2012 RE: Support Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) Dear City of Opa-Locka Commissioners: We are writing to ask for your support to bring much needed water security to the South Florida Region by pledging your municipality's support for Everglades Restoration. We find ourselves at a critical juncture. Scientists say we have less than 15 years to make critical changes to Florida's plumbing to ensure a cheap water supply and at the same time enhance tourism and home values by restoring the wildlife to South Florida. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is on the verge of installing the most critical projects to restore water flow from Lake Okeechobee to Everglades National Park. Both the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) are working to centralize planning of 4 projects at the heart of restoring water to the 'River of Grass'. They are seeking public input and support before requesting Congressional approval of their Project Implementation Report for the Central Everglades Planning Project. Please help accelerate the approval process to implement these important water flow projects by showing the City of Opa-Locka's support. Attached to this email is a draft resolution for your consideration to sign in support of the important work to restore the Everglades, to 'get the water right' on 'Quality, Quantity, Timing, and Distribution'. The citizens of your jurisdiction and the State of Florida will have greater water security now and for future generations. It is important to realize that Florida depends on the Everglades for 1/3 of its population's water supply. Also attached to this package is the Mather Study from 2010 that explains the many economic benefits we will garner in this region as a result of Everglades Restoration. Please express your support for the Central Everglades Planning Project by passing the resolution attached here. Once you have approval or you have scheduled this item for approval, please let us know so we can track your progress and provide support to you. The municipalities of Aventura, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, South Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, and Pinecrest have already pledged their support and we hope you will do the same. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me: Adrian Mahoney via phone 305.318.8860 or email adrianmahoney09 @gmail.com. I can arrange a meeting for you with our executive director, Laura Reynolds to discuss this issue further. We are available to attend your scheduled Commission meeting to offer support and to respond to additional questions that may arise. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, rld ag nerA Keey Intern, Tropical Audubon Society Tropical Audubon Society 1 5530 Sunset Drive Miami, Fl 33143 I (305)667-7337 I www.tropicalaudubon.org CITY OF OPA-LOCKA RESOLUTION NO. 2012 RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA SUPPORTING THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES PLANNING PROJECT FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES. WHEREAS, the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is a globally imperiled habitat and the primary source of drinking water for the City of Opa-Locka; and WHEREAS, Everglades National Park is critical to South Florida's tourism, with nearly a million visitors each year; 30 percent of whom are from outside the United States WHEREAS, the Everglades ecosystem has continued to decline in the face of restoration delays and an expedited solution is needed to increase the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of freshwater flows into the central Everglades, Everglades National Park, and Florida and Biscayne Bays; and WHEREAS, increased deliveries of water south of Lake Okeechobee will reduce damaging discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries; and WHEREAS, the goal of the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) is to significantly reduce planning times and deliver a finalized plan for a suite of restoration projects in the central Everglades within 18 months, WHEREAS, full support and funding by the State of Florida and the U.S. Congress is needed to implement this project that will protect regional water supply, create much needed jobs and strengthen the local economy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA: SECTION 1. That the foregoing "WHEREAS" clauses are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this Resolution upon adoption hereof SECTION 2. That the City of Opa-Locka supports the completion of a Project Implementation Report (PIR) by the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through the CEPP by May 2013 that addresses key obstacles for restoring freshwater flows and implements meaningful ecological and economic benefits toward restoring America's Everglades. SECTION 3. This resolution shall become effective upon the date of its passage and adoption herein. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS DAY OF ,A.D., 2012.